The Italian Connection (1972)

What a fantastic movie!, 28 April 2017

A heroin shipment between Italy and New York goes missing and a small time pimp, Luca Canali (Mario Ardof), is wrongly blamed (actually, framed is probably more accurate). The New York boss sends two hit men to Milan take out Luca. Luca's also got the Milan boss and his goons breathing down his neck. But Luca's not going to go down without fight.

What a fantastic movie! The Italian Connection (or Manhunt or any of the other names this movie has been released under) is the second film in director Fernando Di Leo's "milieu trilogy". While I'm not sure I enjoyed The Italian Connection quite as much as Caliber 9 (I still haven't seen The Boss), they're both excellent, exciting, gritty movies. I think my preference for Caliber 9 is related to the plot twists near the end. Otherwise, it's hard to choose.

I'm a relative newbie as far as Di Leo goes, but he's quickly becoming one of my favorites. Di Leo had the ability to film action as well as any director I've run across. Luca's chase scene across Milan is just brilliant. De Leo's film is often bloody and brutal, but always entertaining. I hate to spoil anything, so I'll just say that there is one death scene (and you'll know it when you see it) that Di Leo filmed and set-up in such a way that it's heartbreaking. The cinematography is stunning. The gritty streets and alleyways of Milan are photographed like works of art. And the film's pacing is excellent. There's not a dull moment in the entire runtime. In fact, I would use the word "frantic" to describe much of the movie – particularly the chase.

The acting in The Italian Connection is spectacular. First, Mario Ardof is wonderful as Luca. I really can't say enough positives about him. The fact that he (and Di Leo) was able to take a low- life, scummy, greasy pimp like Luca and turn him into a sympathetic hero is nothing short of remarkable. It's a truly brilliant piece of acting. In addition to Ardof, the cast includes Henry Silva and Woody Storde as the ruthless New York hit men, Adolfo Celi as the Milan boss, Luciana Paluzzi of Thunderball fame, and Sylva Koscina as Luca's estranged wife. It's quite a strong, talented cast for a movie of this type.

I could go on and on praising The Italian Connection, but I'll end it here. Even though I said I preferred Caliber 9, I'm rating The Italian Connection the same 9/10. It's that good.

9/10